Rack.



M. A. BARR.

RACK.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- B. 1917.

Patented June @1918.

l zfa I HTrY.

INvEN-roa: Mogms H' BHRR:

MORRIS A. BARR, OF ARDMORE, PENNSYLVANIA.

RACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1918.

Application filed October 8, 1917. Serial No. 195,442.

And it is an ob ect of the invention to provide a device of this general character having novel and improved means whereby it may be readily and conveniently supported within a wash boiler, kettle or other cooking utensil and which serves to support jars or other containers generally employed in canning. y

. It is also anobject of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character which may be readily and conveniently placed within an oven or upon a stove when it is desired to employ the de vice for drying purposes.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved rack wherein certain important advantages are attained and the device ren-' dered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of a rack constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and in applied position, the co-acting boiler and jars being indicated by dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a view in top plan of the device as illustrated in Fig. 1 with a second position of the operating handles indicated by dotted lines, and a co-acting boiler being also indicated by dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the device as herein disclosed; and

Fig. 4; is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation.

As herein embodied my improved rack comprises a lower frame 1 preferably formed of wire and bent or formed into a predetermined configuration. Disposed from the frame and supported thereby is a reticulated fabric preferably of a one-half inch mesh. The marginal portion of the fabric is returned around the wire or rod comprised in the frame as indicated at 3 and then extended upwardly to afford a marginal flange or ledge 4. The upper portion of the ledge or flange 4 is returned as at 6 to engage the wire or rod 7 aifording a second frame of the same configuration and dimensions as the frame 1 and positioned directly thereabove.

Disposed transversely of the reticulated fabric 2 and underlying the sameare the strips 8 preferably three in number with one of said strips positioned at the longitudinal center of the frame 1 and with the remaining strips equidistantly spaced relative to said intermediate strip.

The central portion of each of the strips 8 is pinched or flexed to afford a support ing member 9 extending the entire length of the strip and the lower portion of said pinched or flexed portion 9 has its outer or intermediate portion 10 rounded in order to facilitate an equal distribution of the heat between the strips when the rack is employed in connection with dry heat and especially when insertible within an oven or mounted upon the top of the stove for the purpose of drying fruit or the like. The opposite end portions of each of the strips 8 are provided with the flexible tongues 11 engaged about the frame 1 for maintaining the strips in applied position. It is also preferred that the opposite longitudinal marginal portions of each of the strips at substantially midway the length thereof have struck therefrom the tongues 12 adapted to be returned to embrace certain of the strands embodied in the reticulated fabric 2 to further facilitate the maintenance of the strip in applied position. When my improved rack is employed for use in canning or similar operations it is adapted to be inserted within a boiler B or other receptacle and the frame 1 is maintained in predetermined distance above the bottom of the boiler B or other receptacle by the supporting members 9. It has been found in practice that best results are obtained by having the mesh of the reticulated fabric 2 one-half inch as a more uniform in substantially a vertical position.

distribution of the boiling water is obtained. It is also preferred that the strands of the reticulated fabric be formed of galvanized wire. It will also be understood that in a canning operation the jars or other containers C are arranged upon the rack and that said rack readily permits the insertion or removal of said container C within the boiler or receptacle B. In Fig. l 6 denotes the water line within the boiler or other receptacle B during a canning or similar operation.

When my improved rack is employed for the purposes of drying I find it of advantage to place over the reticulated fabric 1 a piece of clean unprinted paper which will prevent any spelter from getting on the fruit or the like, within the rack, to be dried.

Arranged at opposite end portions of the rack and pivotally engaged with the ledges or flanges 4 at diametrically opposed points are the loop handles 14: of a length to extend above the jars or other containers C vIvhen t is also preferred that the upper portions of each of the handles 14 be substantially circular in form and of a diameter slightly in excess of the width of the boiler B or other receptacle in which the rack is inserted so that said handles when folded or swung inwardly will have frictional contact with the side walls of the boiler B to facilitate the holding of the rack Within the boiler B or other receptacle. The contact of the handles 14 with the side walls of the boiler 13 or other receptacle is indicated at a in Fig. 1 and in the dotted position of the handles.

When my improved rack is employed in connection with dry heat it has been fully demonstrated in practice that the strips 8, being of tin or other heat conductive metal, materially facilitate the drying of fruit or the like within the rack as the strips 8 will retain heat and thereby afford a desirable heat radiation.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a rack constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without materially departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim: i

1. A rack of the character described comprising two frames of similar configuration and dimensions and in predetermined spaced relation, a reticulated fabric disposed across one of the frames and having its marginal portions angularly disposed and engaged with the second frame and transversely disposed stripssecured to the first named frame and the reticulated fabric, each of said strips having its transverse central portion flexed to afford an outstanding supporting member, the outer portionof said supporting member being rounded.

2. A rack of the character described comprising two frames of similar configuration and dimensions and in predetermined spaced relation, a reticulated fabric disposed across one of the frames and having its marginal portions angularly disposed and engaged with the second frame and transversely disposed strips secured to the first named frame and the reticulated fabric, each of said strips having its transverse central portion flexed to aflord an outstanding supporting member.

3. A rack of the character described including a bottom of reticulated fabric and strips carried by the rack and underlying the fabric, each of said strips having its transverse central portion flexed to afford an outstanding supporting member.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MORRIS A. BARR.

Witnesses EMILY O. KAIN, Lomsn I-I. KAIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

